The June edition of Iowa Public Radio’s Iowa Arts Showcase kicks off with Ted Swetz and Jody Hovland discussing Riverside Theatre’s upcoming productions of Hamlet and The School for Scandal at Riverside Theatre in the Park. Hovland is the artistic director and one of the original three founders of RiversideTheatre. Swetz, a Professor of Theater at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and past theatrical director at Riverside, is returning this year to direct The School for Scandal. We’ll also learn about original music composed for their School for Scandal production by Matt Janszen and Alex Glamyan. Riverside Theatre in the Park runs at the Festival Stage in Lower City Park, Iowa City from June 14-July 7.
We’ll discuss the Des Moines Arts Festival with Stephen King. King oversees the annual event held in DesMoines’ Western Gateway Park, this year taking place from June 28-30. He delves into the exciting array of live music, juried art and food vendors, activities, and programs intended for a wide variety of audience members.
We’ll hear from Katie Wengert, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Salisbury House, about “Shakespeare on the Lawn” and their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Salisbury House in Des Moines. Salisbury House and the Repertory Theater of Iowa will stage four productions of this Elizabethan favorite between June 20 and the 23.
And Chuck Swanson, executive director of Hancher, updates us on their progress since the devastating floods of 2008. He invites everyone to the June 29 ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the groundbreaking on Hancher’s new performing arts center with performances by San Jose Taiko and Rinde Eckert. He also fills us in on Hancher’s sponsorship of the exciting Preservation Hall Jazz Band tour called Living With Floods, presenting free concerts in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Muscatine, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City, and Dubuque.
Please join us on June 1st for the Iowa Arts Showcase on Saturday morning at 11 and afternoon at 5 on Iowa Public Radio Classical.
